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Faith in God, country and fellow service members helped POW Everett Alvarez Jr. survive

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Retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was the first American shot down over North Vietnam. He was a POW for nearly nine years and is the second-longest POW in American history. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

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Retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was the first American shot down over North Vietnam. He was a POW for nearly nine years and is the second-longest POW in American history.
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Former POWs retired Col. Dr. Thomas McNish (from left), retired Lt. Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. and Capt. David Carey speak to pilots at Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday, March 14, 2019 about their experiences. Alvarez said one of the things that helped them survive captivity was sticking together with a common goal of getting home. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

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Former POWs retired Col. Dr. Thomas McNish (from left), retired Lt. Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. and Capt. David Carey speak to pilots at Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday, March 14, 2019 about their experiences. Alvarez said one of the things that helped them survive captivity was sticking together with a common goal of getting home.
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

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Former POWs retired Col. Dr. Thomas McNish (from left), retired Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. and Capt. David Carey speak to pilots at Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday, March 14, 2019 about their experiences. Alvarez said one of the things that helped them survive captivity was sticking together with a common goal of getting home. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

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Former POWs retired Col. Dr. Thomas McNish (from left), retired Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. and Capt. David Carey speak to pilots at Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday, March 14, 2019 about their experiences. Alvarez said one of the things that helped them survive captivity was sticking together with a common goal of getting home.
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

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Former POWs retired Col. Dr. Thomas McNish (from front), retired Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. and Capt. David Carey speak to pilots at Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday, March 14, 2019 about their experiences. Alvarez said one of the things that helped them survive captivity was sticking together with a common goal of getting home. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

None

Former POWs retired Col. Dr. Thomas McNish (from front), retired Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. and Capt. David Carey speak to pilots at Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday, March 14, 2019 about their experiences. Alvarez said one of the things that helped them survive captivity was sticking together with a common goal of getting home.
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Buy Photo

Retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was the first American shot down over North Vietnam. He was a POW for nearly nine years and is the second-longest POW in American history. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

None

Retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was the first American shot down over North Vietnam. He was a POW for nearly nine years and is the second-longest POW in American history.
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Retired Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was the second-longest-held POW in American history. Contributed photo

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Retired Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was the second-longest-held POW in American history.
Contributed photo

Buy Photo

Retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was the first American shot down over North Vietnam. He was a POW for nearly nine years and is the second-longest POW in American history. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

None

Retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was the first American shot down over North Vietnam. He was a POW for nearly nine years and is the second-longest POW in American history.
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Buy Photo

Former POWs retired Col. Dr. Thomas McNish (from front), retired Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. and Capt. David Carey speak to pilots at Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday, March 14, 2019 about their experiences. Alvarez said one of the things that helped them survive captivity was sticking together with a common goal of getting home. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

None

Former POWs retired Col. Dr. Thomas McNish (from front), retired Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. and Capt. David Carey speak to pilots at Naval Air Station Kingsville on Wednesday, March 14, 2019 about their experiences. Alvarez said one of the things that helped them survive captivity was sticking together with a common goal of getting home.
Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

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A TA-4J was restored to match the aircraft Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. flew in when he was shot down in August 1964. He was captured and imprisoned in Vietnam for eight years and seven months. Alexandria Rodriguez/Caller-Times

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A TA-4J was restored to match the aircraft Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. flew in when he was shot down in August 1964. He was captured and imprisoned in Vietnam for eight years and seven months.
Alexandria Rodriguez/Caller-Times

Buy Photo

A TA-4J was restored to match the aircraft Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. flew in when he was shot down in August 1964. He was captured and imprisoned in Vietnam for eight years and seven months. Alexandria Rodriguez/Caller-Times

None

A TA-4J was restored to match the aircraft Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. flew in when he was shot down in August 1964. He was captured and imprisoned in Vietnam for eight years and seven months.
Alexandria Rodriguez/Caller-Times

Buy Photo

A TA-4J was restored to match the aircraft Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. flew in when he was shot down in August 1964. He was captured and imprisoned in Vietnam for eight years and seven months. Alexandria Rodriguez/Caller-Times

None

A TA-4J was restored to match the aircraft Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. flew in when he was shot down in August 1964. He was captured and imprisoned in Vietnam for eight years and seven months.
Alexandria Rodriguez/Caller-Times